Beginning with the 1957 release of Loving
You, Elvis' characters, and others, were often pictured using a
Gibson J-45 in several of the earlier movies he made for
Paramount. This particular guitar features solid spruce top,
mahogany back sides and neck, 20 fret dot inlaid rosewood fretboard,
strait line Kluson tuners with plastic buttons, single strip binding, an
upper belly bridge that was introduced on the J-45s in 1950 and the
longer pointed pickguard that replaced the tear drop shaped one in
1955. He uses this early in the movie prior to switching to a Gibson
J-200, either his own or a Paramount Property dept. one identical to
it that was also used in later films.

In the 1958 release of King
Creole, his last picture made before entering the Army, Elvis is
again seen using the same sequence of guitars as Loving You. He
starts with the Gibson J-45 and them later uses the Gibson J-200.

In
Paramount's 1960 release of G.I.
Blues, his first movie after the Army, Elvis primarily plays a
prop J-200, the J-45 and a Harmony
Monterey archtop that will be used again in the 1966 release of Paradise,
Hawaiian Style. In G.I. Blues, the J-45 is initially
played by James
Douglas, one of his soldier/bandmate co-stars, who then hands it off
to Scotty along with the J-200 as they exit the scene. The J-45 is
also used in
some publicity shots for the film.

In Paramount's 1961 release of Blue Hawaii,
Elvis is again cast as recently discharged soldier just returned home
from his real unit, the 3rd Armored Division.
In addition to a Ukulele, Elvis
is again pictured using the J-45. Though
only used by Elvis in song early in the movie and other times by Lani
Kai, Blue Hawaii probably featured this guitar more than any other film. In the scene where Elvis sings
Rock-a-Hula
Baby the guitar is featured with the pickguard covered in aluminum, possibly to
make it appear as a different guitar or for its use as a Hawaiian
steel guitar.

According to Gibson, the J-45 has been Gibson’s top-selling acoustic guitar for years. Nicknamed “The Workhorse”
it was first introduced in 1942.
Initially, the J-45 guitar differed only slightly from the discontinued
J-35. Internal
construction changes from the J-35 included top bracing strengthened slightly with 1" set "X" brace behind the
sound hole, tall and thin back braces, and most importantly, scalloped tall and thin top braces.
Sunburst was the only finish available for the J-45 (a sunburst finish can hide wood flaws, an important feature during
World War II when wood supplies were short). After the war the J-45 stayed sunburst, with a blond version being introduced in 1947 and called the J-50.*

The J-45 is still offered
today and according to Gibson is now the icon of its
round-shoulder, dreadnought line, world renowned for its full, balanced
expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. They considered it
one of the most technically advanced guitars of its time. Click here
for a more detailed history of vintage J-45s.